A new brochure by Archbishop Roman of Yakutsk and Lena has been released, shedding light on the rich history of missionary work in Yakutia and its current state. The publication, titled Yakutia: Mission Yesterday and Today, is a collection of articles in which the archbishop discusses the development of Orthodox Christianity in the region.

The publication is of interest to anyone who is curious about the history of the Yakutsk Diocese and Orthodox missionary activity. In particular, the authors explore the journey of the diocese, from its inclusion in the Tobolsk Diocese in the 17th century to its establishment as an independent Yakutsk Diocese in the 19th century.

The brochure pays special attention to the work of Saint Innocent (Veniaminov), who played a key role in the Christian enlightenment of the peoples of the North. It discusses the translation of the Holy Scriptures and liturgical books into local languages, which was an important step in strengthening the spiritual life of the indigenous peoples of Yakutia. He placed great emphasis on the translation of sacred texts into local languages, including Yakut, and highlighted the importance of spiritual education for the local peoples, rather than just external Christianization.

In the 1850s, clergy were actively involved in the creation of Yakut grammar and the translation of sacred texts to make Christian teachings accessible to local peoples. One of the first steps was overcoming the language barrier, as many Yakuts did not speak Russian. To address this, a Committee for the Creation of Yakut Grammar was established, and work began on creating a written system for the Yakuts based on the Church Slavonic alphabet.

The publication also addresses the Soviet period, when Orthodoxy in Yakutia faced difficult times: churches were closed, and many clergy were repressed.

The modern history of missionary work in Yakutia began in 1983 when the first Orthodox parish in Yakutsk was registered. In 1993, the Yakutsk-Vilyui Diocese was revived, and since then, catechetical, youth, social, and missionary activities have been actively developing in the region.

According to the diocesan website, the brochure will become an important source of information for anyone interested in the spiritual history of Yakutia and the life of the Orthodox Church in the North of Russia.